Yarn processing apparatus



A, L. EWING 2,317,747

YARN PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 5, 1942 s Shee t 1 Aviwi.wi INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY April 27, 1943. A. L. EWING YARN PROCESSING, APPARATUS I 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1942 A lviaL.Ewi17 IINVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 1943 A. 1.. EWING YARN PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed Aug; 5, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 vinllwilfj INVENTOR.

A TI'URNIY Ami 27, 1943. A. L.. EWING YARN PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 5, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 AlviaZ.Eu/i INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY April 27, 1943. A. L. EWING 2 311,

- YARN PROCESSING APPARATUS I Filed Aug. 5. 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 V 5 f A I. i 1 1::l;Z 12

Alvin wig; INVEIQTOR.

ATTORNEY April 27, 1943. A. 1.. EWING 2,317,747

' YARN PROCESING APPARATUS FiledAug. 5, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Alvi aL.Ewin INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 27,- 1943 YARN rnocnssmc APPARATUS Alvin L. Ewing, Richmond, Va., assignor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application August 5, 1942, Serial No. 453,693

Claims.

This invention relates to a yarn processing ap'- paratus. More'particularly,'it relates to an improved construction of a yarn storing and advancing reel.

Yarn storing and advancing reels are commonly used in the liquid treatment and drying Figure 6 is a. view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

of, yarns in so-called continuous spinning processes, i. e., processes in which the-yarn is spun from a filament-forming solution, subjected to a liquid purification treatment, dried, and wound in a salable package in one continuous operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a yarn storing and advancing reel having an improved construction.

It is another object of this invention to provide a yarn storing and advancing reel which is of simple, strong construction and which will function to smoothly advance a yarn along the length thereof.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a yarn storing and advancing reel which is of simple, strong construction and which will function to move a yarn spirally about the reel.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The above objects are accomplished by constructing a reel with a plurality of sets of parallel yarn carrying rods, the rods of each set adapted to move about a separate orbital path, the plurality of sets of rods mounted about a Figure 7 is a view taken along the line l! of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a view taken along the line 88 of Figure 4.

Figures 9 and 10 are detail views, with parts in section, showing a modified form of construc- 'tion.

Figure 12 is a detail view, with parts shown in section, of a modified form of yarn advancing reel.

Figure 13 is a view taken along the line 1 3-13 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the reel reference numeral 28 designates the supporting central reel shaft to rotate therewith, all of the rods of the several sets connected to rod reciprocating means adapted to simultaneously move said rods, in one axial direction, while they are in yarn carrying contact with a yarn positioned about the reel.

The present invention will be more easily understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustrations, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with parts shown in section, of a reel constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the reel shown in Figure 1, and showing additional means for supporting yarn carrying rods.

- Figure 3 is a top plan view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and showing also the drive shaft and connecting gears.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view, with parts shown in. section, of one set of yarn carrying rods.

Figure 5 is a view taken along the line 5- of Figure 2.

frame of a yarn storing and advancing apparatus. A drive shaft 22 and a central reel shaft '24 are mounted in journals positioned in the frame 20., The drive shaft 22 is rotated by means of motor 26. Reel shaft 24 is rotated by means of spur gears 28 and 30 fixed respectively on drive shaft 22 and reel shaft 24 (see Fig. 3). A pair of parallel end plates 32 and 34 are fixed in spaced relationship to each other on opposite ends of the reel shaft 24. A plurality of parallel secondary shafts 36 are rotatabiy mounted in the spaced end plates 32 and 34. A rod supporting disc 38 is fixedly mounted near each end of each secondary shaft 36. A plurality of yarn carrying rods 4-0 are sliilably mounted in the rod supporting discs 38 in circumferentially spaced relationship about each of the secondary shafts 36. A cylindrical end cam 42is fixedly mounted concentricallyabout each secondary shaft 38, on end plate 34. A similar cylindrical end cam 44 is mounted, concentrically about each secondary shaft, on end plate 32.

portions'of the secondary shafts 36 projecting" from end plates 32 and 34 are providedw ith spur gears 46. The spur gears 46*mesh with""a',-"'cen5 tral spur gear 48 (see Fig. '7)' and are driven v thereby. Spur gear 48 is mounted on a common I sleeve 50 (see Fig. 3) with gear- 52. Spur gear The end cam surfaces of cylindrical cams 42 and 44 are complementary I to each other; i. e., the low point of cam- 42 "is opposite the high point of cam 44 and the "high" point of cam 42 is opposite the low point of cam 52 is driven by spur gear 64 fixedly mounted on drive shaft 22. Gear wheels 52 and 54 have a different gear ratio than gear wheels 36 and 28 so that the sleeve 56 is turned at a different angular speed than the central reel shaft '24. Thus, the secondary shafts 36 are rotated in the end plates 32 and 34. The rods 46 are consequently moved relative to the earns 42 and 44 with the ends of the rods in contact with the end cam surfaces. As the rods revolve about the secondary shaft axes they are slid back and forth through red supporting discs 38. The cams 42 and 44 are arranged, of course, in such a man'- ner that all of the rods 46, while they are in carrying contact with the yarn, will be moved in the same axial direction thereby shifting the yarn in that direction as the reel rotates.

If desired, the yarn carrying rods may be supported along their length by one or more supporting devices as shown in Figs. 2. 3, 4 and 5. This device comprises rod supporting gears 66 mounted on the secondary shafts 36, and'a spider gear 62 loosely mounted on the reel shaft 24. The rods are supported in alternate gear tooth spaces and the teeth of the spider gear 62 mesh in the other alternate gear tooth spaces. The spider gear. being loosely mounted on shaft 24 is rotated by rod supporting gears 66.

The reel may be used to liquid process and dry afreshly spun yarn as shown in Fig. 1. One or more yarns '16 (four shown) are extruded by spinnerets I2 into a coagulating bath I4. The yarns are passed from the bath. I4 to yarn guiding pins I6 and thence about the yarn carrying rods of the reel. As the reel shaft 24 is rotated the secondary. shafts 36 rotate about the reel shaft 24. By means of the above-described gear trains the secondary shafts 36 are also rotated about their own axes, and by means of rod supporting discs 38, rotate the rods 46 together with thereby causing a reciprocation of the rods 46. The cam surfaces are so arranged, relative to the periphery of the reel that the rods will be moved in only one axial direction while they are in contact with the yarn. In this manner, ayarn positioned about the reel will be spirally moved about the reel.

As shown in Fig. 1 the yarn positioned on the reel is processed with processing liquids passing onto the yarn from three pans 82, 84 and 86. The yarn is then dried by means of hot air blower 68. The yarn I6 is passed from the reel about Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a modified form of.

yarn carrying rods 46a such as may be desired if a greater frictional contact of the rods with the yarn is desired. Fig. 9 shows the means of supporting such rods by means of a spider gear 62 and rod supporting gears 66. Fig. 10 illustrates the rod supporting disc 38a which moves the rods 46a with the secondary shaft 36. The rods slide through the disc 38a similarly to the round rods above described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8.

Fig. 11 illustrates a modified form of yarn carrying rods 46b which are constructed with a gradual taper permitting either shrinkage of the secondary shafts. As the rods 46 are rotated 1 with the secondary shaftsthey are moved axially by the earns 42 and 44. All of the rods 46 positioned about the several secondary shafts are moved in the same axial direction while they are in carrying contact with the yarn. These yarn carrying rods therefore function to move th yarn' spirally about the reel.

The above-described reel operates essentially as follows:

The motor 26 turns drive shaft 22. The drive shaft 22 operates reel shaft 24 by means of spur gears 28 and 36. Such spur gears may be provided at only one end of. shafts 22 and 24, or as illustrated, such spur gears may be provided at both ends of the above said shafts. Reel shaft 24 rotates together with end plates 32 and 34, and thus rotating the reel as a whole including all of the yarn carrying rods 46 positioned about the several secondary shafts 36. The secondary shafts 36 together with the yarn carrying rods are also rotated about their individual axes by means of spur gears 46 mounted on at least one end of each axial shaft and spur gear 48 centrally mounted and in mesh with all of the spur gears 46. The spur gear 48 is rotated at a different angular speed than the reel shaft 24, the

relative motion between these two angular speeds causing rotation of the spur gears 46 and their secondary shafts 36. Thecylindrical end cams 42 and 44 are fixed to the end plates 34 and 32. The rotation of the secondary shafts 36 together with the yarn carrying rods 46 causes the end surfaces of the various rods to contact the complementarycam surfaces of cams 42 and 44, 76

yarn or tensioning of yarn (depending on the direction of taper) as the yarn is forwarded by the reel. This figure also illustrates a construction in which the rods 46b can be reciprocated by means of only a. single cylindrical cam H6. The ends of the rods 46b adjacent the cam II6 are bent to function as cam followers.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, reference numeral I 26 designates a number of yarn carrying elements connected to each other by means of chain links I22. The links I22 fit loosely about the elements I26 to permit them -to slide relative thereto. The links I22 hold the elements together in two sets, each set being held in contact with a semi-circular grooved cam I24. The two grooved cams I24 are rotated by means of shaft I26, which in turn is driven by gears I28 and I 36, or in any other desired manner. The rotation of shaft I 26 and cams I 24 causes theyarn carrying elements to rotate therewith. The elements I 26 are provided on their internal periphery with gear teeth which are adapted to mesh with spur gears I32 and I34 mounted on opposite ends of an auxiliary shaft positioned in each of said cams as clearly shown in Fig. 12. The gears I32 and I34 function to move the elements I 26 in the manner of caterpillar type tractor elements. Each of said elements I26 is provided with a cam groove follower projection I36 which is adapted to ride in its respective cam groove to cause a reciprocation of the yarn carrying elements I26. The gears I32 are rotated by means of stationary gear I38 in mesh therewith. Gear I38 is mounted on sleeve. I46 which is held stationary by supporting frame I42. If desired, the yarn carrying elements I 26 can be additionally supported from their external surfaces by means of fixed supporting sleeve I44. The cam grooves-in cams I24 are so arranged that all the yarn carrying elements of 7 opposite direction when they are out of contact with the yarn.

The device illustrated in Figs. 12 to 14 of the drawings operates in the following manner. The

, reel shaft I20 is rotated by means of spur gears ment by means of spur gears I32 and I34 r'neshing with teeth out on the internal peripheral surface of the yarn carrying elements I20. The gears I32 and I34 are mounted on opposite ends of shafts projecting through cams I24. The spur gears I32 are in mesh with a stationary spur gear I38, a rotation of the cams I24 causing the spur gears I32 to be rotated by the stationary spur gear I38, the spur gears I32 and I34 causing a movement of the yarn carrying elements I20 in the manner of a caterpillar type tractor belt about each of the cams I24. The individual yarn carrying elements I20 are caused to reciprocate by means of the cam groove in cam I24 into sleeve I44 will aid in supporting the external'sur" face of the yarn carrying elements I20.

As will be obvious from the numerous embodiments of the invention, above described and illustrated, many changes in design can be made Without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention. The types of cams and gears may be altered within the skill of a mechanic without altering the fundamental character of the apparatus.

The number of sets of yarn carrying rods can be altered to suit the convenience of the operation to be performed in advancing a yarn. From 2-12 sets of yarn carrying rods can be readily incorporated in a reel of the type above described. It is ordinarily convenient to construct a reel of this type so that the helical path of the yarn passing thereabout is from 8-14 inches in diameter, and the reel may be made of any convenient length to take care of the necessary processing of the particular yarn to be produced or processed. The reel is conveniently made from 4-12 feet in length; however, both the diameter, and length of the reel may be made greater-"or less to suit the particular circumstances involved in the use thereof. The gear ratios and the length of throw of the cams may also be altered as desired. Preferably, as the movement of yarns to be processed at one time from one reel to another until the desired processing steps have all been accomplished.

Although any convenient reel speed is operative with the apparatus of this invention, it has generally been found that a speed of 3000 inches per minute is a convenient rate of yarn travel when using apparatus of this nature.

The yarn advancing reel of the present invention may be advantageously used for any purpose where yarn storing, concurrent with yam advancement is of value; for example, this reel is found of utility in the spinning and processing of viscous rayon yarn, for the processing of cellulose derivative yarn produced by evapo-v rative spinning processes and it is of value in the spinning of cellulose derivative yarn to store and advance the yarn while the latter is heated to remove the last traces of solvent. It may be used in the processing of yarn such as the application of finishes or sizes to a yarn and the subsequent drying thereof where such process involves the handling of considerable lengths of yarn in a relatively small space. The reel of the present invention has particular utility in that the yarn is moved spirally about the reel as a result of the rotativeand axial movement of the individual yarn carrying rods.

Since it is obvious that many changes and modifications can be made in the above-described details without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details described herein except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A yarn processing and advancing reel comprising a central reel shaft, means for rotating said reel shaft, a plurality of individual sets of parallel yarn carrying rods mounted about said central reel shaft to rotate therewith, means for successively moving the rods of each set within a given path, and rod reciprocating means for simultaneously moving, in one axial direction, all of said rods while they are in carrying contact with said yarn.

2. A yarn processing and advancing reel comprising a central reel shaft, means for rotating said reel shaft, a plurality of individual sets of connected parallel yarn carrying rods, said sets mounted about said central reel shaft to rotate therewith, means for successively moving the rods of each set within a given path, and rod reciprocating means for simultaneously moving, in one axial direction, all of said rods while they are in carrying contact with said yarn.

3. A yarn processing and advancing reel comprising a central reel shaft, means for rotating said reel shaft, a plurality of parallel secondary shafts positioned in spaced circumferential relationship about said reel shaft to rotate therewith, means for rotating said secondary shafts,

a plurality of parallel yarn carrying rods positioned in spaced circumferential relationship about each of said secondary shafts to rotate therewith, and rod reciprocating means for simultaneously moving, in one axial direction, all of said rods while they are in carrying contact with said yarn. I

4. A yarn processing and advancing reel comprising a central reel shaft, means for rotating said reel shaft, a plurality of parallel secondary shafts positioned in spaced circumferential relationship about said reel shaft to rotate therewith, means for rotating said secondary shafts, a plurality of parallel yarn carrying rods positioned in spaced circumferential relationship about each of said secondary shafts to rotate therewith, and rod reciprocating cam means for simultaneously moving, in one axial direction, all of said rods while they are in carrying contact with said yam.

5. A yarn processing and advancing reel comprising a central reel shaft, means for rotating said reel shaft, a plurality of parallel secondary shafts positioned in spaced circumferential relationship about said reel shaft to rotate therewith, means for rotating said secondary shafts, a plurality of parallel yarn carrying rods positioned in spaced circumferential relationship about each of said secondary shafts to rotate therewith, and rod reciprocating cam means positioned against the ends of said rods for simultaneously moving, in one axial direction, all of said rods while they are in carrying contact with said yarn.

6., A yarn processing and advancing reel comprising a central reel shaft, means for rotating said reel shaft, a plurality of parallel secondary shafts positioned in spaced circumferential relationship about said reel shaft to rotate therewith, means for rotating said secondary shafts, a plurality of parallel yarn carrying rods positioned in spaced circumferential relationship about each of said secondary shafts to rotate therewith, and cooperating cam means positioned against opposite ends of said rods for simultaneously moving, in one axial direction, all of said rods while they are in carrying contact with said yarn.

7. A yarn processing and advancing reel comprising a central reel shaft, means for rotating said reel shaft, spaced parallel plates fixed on said reel shaft, a plurality of parallel secondary shafts rotatably mounted in said plates, said secondary shafts positioned in spaced circumferential relationship about said reel shaft, means for simultaneously rotating said secondary shafts in the same direction, a plurality of parallel yarn carrying rods positioned in spaced circumferential relationship about each of said secondary shafts to rotate therewith, and rod reciprocating means for simultaneously moving, in one axial direction, all of said rods while they are in carrying contact with said yarn.

8. A yarn processing and advancing reel comrotate therewith, and rod reciprocating carn means for simultaneously moving, in one axial direction, all of said rods while they are in carrying contact with said yarn.

9. A yarn processing and advancing reel comprising a central reel shaft, means for rotating said reel shaft, spaced parallel plates fixed on said reel shaft, a plurality of parallel secondary shafts rotatably mounted in said plates, said secondary shafts positioned in spaced circumferential relationship about said reel shaft, means for simultaneously rotating said secondary shafts in the same direction, a plurality of parallel yarn carrying rods positioned in spaced circumferential relationship about each of said secondary shafts to rotate therewith, and rod reciprocating cam means positioned against the ends of said rods for simultaneously moving, in one axial direction, all of said rods while they are in carrying contact with said yarn.

10. A yam processing and advancing reel comprising a central reel shaft, means for rotating said reel shaft, spaced parallel plates fixed on said reel shaft, a plurality of parallel secondary shafts rotatably mounted in said plates, said secondary shafts positioned in spaced circumferential relationship about said reel shaft, means for simultaneously rotating said secondary shafts in the same direction, a plurality of parallel yarn carrying rods positioned in spaced circumferential relationship about each of said secondary shafts to rotate therewith, and cooperating cam means positioned against opposite ends of said rods for simultaneously moving, in one axial direction, all

of said rods while they are in carrying contact with said yarn.

- ALVIN L. EWING. 

